Panic engulfed residents of Oko, the Federal Polytechnic host community in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, on Sunday night after a three-storey building collapsed, trapping several occupants beneath the rubble.
The building, identified as Elite Five Star Lodge, located beside Tonimas Filling Station at Amokpala, Oko, caved in suddenly, leaving many feared dead while rescue teams battled through the debris to save those trapped.
Eyewitnesses, who captured the tragic incident on video, were seen crying and expressing shock as desperate rescue efforts commenced at the scene.
Confirming the incident, the Anambra State Police Command said it immediately deployed a joint security team following a distress call.
Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said officers, in collaboration with other security agencies, secured the area to prevent further danger and coordinated rescue operations.
He disclosed that personnel of the Anambra State Fire Service and the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) also joined the rescue mission.
According to Ikenga, several injured victims have been pulled alive from the rubble and rushed to a hospital in Oko for treatment, while emergency responders continue to search for others believed to be trapped beneath the collapsed structure.
He, however, declined to state the number of casualties, saying rescue operations were still ongoing and the exact number of victims could not yet be confirmed.
The police spokesman urged residents to remain calm, avoid spreading unverified information and stay away from the scene to allow rescue workers unhindered access to the site.
